The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force will participate in the DEA’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Expired, unwanted or unused medication can be brought to the Beltrami County Law Enforcement Center. Medication can be dropped off at the Records Office window. Rates of prescription drug abuse in…
Graph courtesy of Beltrami County. COVID-19 cases around the state and locally appear to be on the rise. Beltrami County Public Health said Friday that they were actively monitoring 77 cases of COVID-19, with a new case rate of around 30 per 10,000 people for the two-week period ending April 8. Since Friday, the Minnesota…
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has updated its guidance for one-day outings including for holidays, such as Easter, Passover, and other celebrations. The change is to reflect the CDC’s latest guidelines for nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The key difference is that long-term care residents in both nursing homes and assisted living now…
Sanford Bemidji is no offering COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 16 years old and older. Vaccinations will only be administered with an appointment. Those eligible can call (877)701-0779 to schedule their vaccine appointment, or request through MySanford Chart. Being a previous Sanford patient is not a requirement to receive a vaccine at Sanford Bemidji. Those without…
Last month, a group of local Sanford Ambassadors were selected to go on a surprise trip to Nashville, Tenn. The group of employees was selected because of their “extraordinary commitment to their work and the people they serve.” One of the ambassadors was the nurse manager of the COVID unit and another was a provider…
Dr. Colleen Swank, pediatrician and VP of Clinics for Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota, says anyone aged 65+, 45-64 with one or more underlying medical conditions, 16-44 with two or more underlying medical conditions can get a vaccine at Sanford Health. Underlying conditions include those that require a patient to use supplemental oxygen, have a…
Sanford Bemidji is now inviting anyone 65 and over to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. According to a release, anyone within this age group who has not yet been vaccinated can call (877)701-0779 to schedule an appointment. The release says there will not be any cost for the vaccine or appointment, and patients outside of…
Beltrami County Public Health reports they have only a few left to vaccinate for those who work in health care, child care, and E through 12 education. The focus will now shift to those who are 65 and older. Many in this age group have already been vaccinated, but there are still many who have…
Minnesotans have received more than one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, Governor Tim Walz announced today. The state reported 1,016,210 doses had been administered as of today’s official report. In all, 728,081 Minnesotans had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 286,543 had completed the two-dose series. The Minnesota Department of Health reported…
U.S. Senator Tina Smith says rural healthcare providers like Sanford Health could be included in the next COVID-19 relief package, anticipated for a vote next month. According to a release, the bipartisan legislation would waive the Small Business Administration’s affiliation rules for nonprofit hospitals that serve rural areas so they may qualify for Paycheck Protection…
